A trip to Prague is a dream for any traveler. Just imagine: rooftops and observation decks, narrow streets and the main sights of Prague. And if this dream came true we envy you! Those who are in love with Prague know it firsthand, this desire to see all its sights at once. We ourselves had a hard time choosing, so we decided to help you and created a guide to Prague and with it you'll know where to go and what to see. We sincerely hope that it will make your acquaintance with the Czech capital more interesting and comfortable.
We start our first visit in Prague with a walking tour in the Old Town and head straight to Prague Castle. This is a paradise for those who like to walk because the most important historical buildings for the history of the city are situated and spread on the territory of 7 hectares.
Once the Prague Castle was a wooden fortress, which was built from makeshift materials, but later turned into the residence of the Czech rulers. To continue the tradition, today the President's residence is located in Prague Castle. When you stop in front of the entrance to the Castle, do not rush to enter. Perhaps you will be able to see the changing of the guard at the three gates of the Castle which takes place every hour from 7 am to 10 pm in the summer season and until 6 pm in winter. If you happened to be there at 12 am, you will find the changing of the guard accompanied to the music of a military band.
Opening hours: Prague Castle and the Garden on the Bastion from 6 am to 10 pm.
Timetable: from April to October: from 9 am till 5 pm. From November to March: from 9 am till 4 pm.
Cost of the tickets: Prague Castle is divided into several districts, tickets are sold separately for each of them. Ticket prices start from 450 crowns. There are also discounts and family tickets.
The next stop in our trip is St. Vitus Cathedral. Today it is a functioning Gothic cathedral. Its walls remember how the rulers of the city were crowned and saw off on their last journey. It's better than a history textbook!
The thing is that it was continuously built for six centuries by the best architects, and therefore the cathedral absorbed the features of the most important periods of art and architecture such as Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance traditions. Moreover, St. Vitus Cathedral is a strategically important object for our itinerary. It is worth climbing the observation tower of the cathedral and you will have a chance to see a panoramic view of the city from a height of 124 meters. We advise you to plan a visit in the morning or evening. This way you are more likely not to be surrounded by crowds and you will enjoy the view in silence and solitude.
Opening hours: from November to March: from 9 am to 4 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 12 am to 4 pm on Sundays. From April to October: from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 12 am to 7 pm on Sundays.
Cost: free, ticket to the observation deck is 150 crowns.
Right after the visit to the observation deck, we are going to Golden Street. According to the legend, it was named so because alchemists and jewelers used to settle on it. In these cute «gingerbread houses» they worked with stones and gold. Walk along the Golden street and try to imagine yourself surrounded by craftsmen who forged the whole Prague Castle. Expositions could help you use your imagination. Today they are located in every house. For example, in house 27 there are herbs and flasks, because a healer lived there.
We leave the Prague Castle and head to the Mala Strana area. Stay a little longer on the main Lesser Town Square. It was surrounded by buildings in the Baroque and Renaissance styles, and the St. Mikulas Church, the stalactite wall, the Sala terrena loggia and a whole ensemble of palaces and gardens were hidden in the area. We assure you it is very beautiful!
Passing Mala Strana, we are moving towards the Old Town Square. Find the astronomical clock in the old square, compare it with yours and head to the Charles Bridge. On the way you will encounter the wall of John Lennon, which is the Prague symbol of freedom of speech. Here everyone who has something to say leaves messages on the wall for the people, for the future and for the city.
After the John Lennon wall, we are heading to Charles Bridge, which is considered the most iconic touristy sight in Prague and the main spot to take pictures. It is the main way across the Vltava River and every day tourists walk along it from one bank of the river to the other. The entrance to the bridge is free, and its length is over 500 meters. As you walk across the bridge, look around and contemplate the beautiful sculptures. Usually everyone is looking for the sculpture of John of Nepomuk since it is the most famous one. We are going to share with you one little, but important detail of the Charles Bridge. Try to find the Crucifixion. This is the oldest sculpture, which was made in 1657.
From the Charles Bridge pier you can go on a water tour along Vltava. The choice of routes and formats is very diverse — rely on your wishes, mood and the schedule. Among the formats — an hour or two-hour journey, cruise with Prosecco or cruise along the unusual Chertovka channel. Each cruise differs in schedule, duration, route saturation, availability of included food and drinks, as well as in the type of ship. The cost varies from 20 to 74 euros for an adult ticket, there are discounts for children on each route.
The next point in our itinerary is Wenceslas Square. It is one of the largest squares in the world and another famous tourist place in Prague. Once you made it to the square, imagine how a few years ago the independence of the Czech and Slovak lands from Austria-Hungary was proclaimed, as well as the loud Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution happened exactly here. It's hard to wrap your head around this, but you are in a place that is literally saturated with political and historical events.
Now we are moving towards our next spot on the map of Prague attractions which is the Powder Tower. It could have become a gate, if in the 17th century they had not preferred a powder store. That's the reason it is called this way. Today everyone goes up this Gothic-style tower to see the panorama of the city. The Powder Tower is the last sight of the old city, and it will be the final chord in our acquaintance with top attractions in Prague and its history.
Opening hours of the observation deck: from January till March, from October till November — from 10 am till 6 pm. From April till May — from 10 am till 7 pm. From June till September — from 9 am till 8:30 pm. December — 10 am till 7:30 pm.
Cost: starting from 190 crowns. There are also discounted and family tickets available.
We have created an interactive map of Prague for you to get around easily. You can check the route around the city here.
We consider it our duty to remind you that these are only the main touristy sights in Prague. You don't have to follow exactly this itinerary, feel free to deviate. Prague is charming because you can stumble upon beautiful spots at every intersection.
